Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Jahvid Best expects to be just as fast but a little bit bigger in 2009.

	Kim Klement/US PRESSWIRE
	Jahvid Best is a trendy Heisman candidate, but he has his eye on a bigger prize.

Sort of like California, which checks in at lucky No. 13 in Mark Schlabach's pre-season top 25 rankings.

That elbow injury? It's gone. Over. No worries.

And the foot?

"I'm really close to being 100 percent," said Best, who sat out spring practices after surgeries on both injuries. "I'm out here doing all the workouts and everything. Afterwards, I feel a little bit of soreness, but when I'm [running] I don't feel anything."

He played at 190 pounds last year. He's at 200 now and wants to hit 205 while retaining the speed that made him the nation's fastest football player. (Not track star, folks. Football player.)

Fastest? No one even compares.

Best produced 19 runs of 20 or more yards in 2008. Seven of 60 or more and three of 80 or more.

Again: No one even compares.

He led the Pac-10 and ranked third in the nation in rushing with 131.67 yards per game and 1,580 yards for the season. He led the nation with an 8.1 yards-per-carry average and scored 15 touchdowns, which tied for second in the conference.

Those numbers are why many are projecting him as a Heisman Trophy candidate and California as a potential foil for USC's seven-year run atop the Pac-10.

As for the Heisman talk, the junior is flattered but he's eyeballing other prizes.

"I'm just blessed to even be in some of those categories people are putting me in," Best said. "But as far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to pay too much attention to it. I'm just going to work on my game to be sure I can be the best player I can be when the season comes around.

"It's definitely a dream of mine, but there won't be any let-down if I don't achieve that goal. As far as I'm concerned, I'm worried about my team and worried about winning the Pac-10 and moving up in the rankings with my team. Individual goals can be put aside for now."

Ah, that's the rub. Best and Cal fans are sniffing Rose Bowl, which the Golden Bears haven't played in since … ouch … 1959.

Perhaps that's why they call the Golden Bears' veteran boosters "Old Blues."

Best said the Bears' defense, which welcomes back eight starters from a unit that ranked 23rd in the country in scoring (19.9 points per game), should be among the best in the country. He loves the depth on the offensive line.

Of course, Best is also aware that Cal has fallen short of expectations before. For example, in 2007, his freshman season, Cal started 5-0, ascended to No. 2 in the land and dipped its toe into the national championship discussion.

The Bears finished 7-6.

"You could see it that way, but the way I see it is you can't take anything for granted," he said. "If you are playing well, you can't just think you're the greatest team ever. At any point any team can lose and then fall off the map. All we have to do is stay focused and we'll be there at the end."

Best is asked which reward he most wants at the end: The Heisman or the Pac-10?

He doesn't pause, "Oh, Pac-10. Easily."